Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, CM Fadnavis said, “Everyone knows that BJP leader Ram Naik made the biggest contribution in changing Bombay to Mumbai. We always say Mumbai, and not Bombay"
CM Fadnavis' statement comes amid a row over remarks by Union Minister Jitendra Singh regarding the institute’s name. File Pic/X
The Maharashtra government will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Education Ministry seeking to rename IIT Bombay as IIT Mumbai, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Wednesday, reported the PTI.
The announcement comes amid a row over remarks by Union Minister Jitendra Singh regarding the institute’s name.
Singh, addressing a function at IIT Bombay on Monday, had said, “As far as IIT Bombay is concerned, thank God it still is this name. You have not changed it to Mumbai. So that's another compliment to you. And also true for Madras. It remains IIT Madras,” according to the PTI.
The comments drew sharp criticism from MNS chief Raj Thackeray, who suggested they reflected the government’s mindset.
Responding to the minister's remark, Thackeray said it clearly appears to be a symbol of the government's mindset.
The plot to separate Mumbai, which has always belonged to the Marathi people, from Maharashtra was foiled by Marathi leaders and the public, the MNS chief Raj Thackeray stated in a post on X.
"Our Marathi Mumbai remained in Maharashtra. Now, the bitterness that's been festering in their bellies for decades is starting to spill out once again," he said.
Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, CM Fadnavis said, “First of all, everyone knows that BJP leader Ram Naik made the biggest contribution in changing Bombay to Mumbai. We always say Mumbai, and not Bombay. We have been consistently trying to ensure that ‘Bombay’ be replaced with Mumbai.” He added, “I will write a letter to the Prime Minister and the HRD Minister to change the name of IIT Bombay to IIT Mumbai,” as per the PTI.
Raj Thackeray also weighed in, linking the issue to the preservation of Marathi identity in Mumbai. He claimed that attempts were being made to gradually assert external control over the city and the wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
Thackeray said the Central government’s earlier attempt to wrest Chandigarh from Punjab was similar, and that the people of Mumbai should be vigilant.
MNS workers put up a banner outside IIT Bombay on Wednesday, symbolically renaming the institute IIT Mumbai. Former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya confirmed that the state government will formally propose the name change to the Centre and also suggested renaming the Bombay High Court as Mumbai High Court, the news agency reported.
The city, formerly known as Bombay, was officially renamed Mumbai in 1995 to honour the local goddess Mumbadevi and to shed remnants of British colonial rule. IIT Bombay, established in 1958, has retained its original name since inception.
(with PTI inputs)
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